Electric switch



.Dea 22, 193.1- c D. AINSWORTH 1,837,805

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed April 2, 1925 I5 Sheets-Sheet l neg-22, 1931.

lC4 D. AlNswoRTH 1,837,805

ELECTRIC SWITCH Original Filed April 2. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 22, 1931. c. D. AlNswoRTH ELECTRIC SWITCH v3 Sheets-Sheet I5 Original Filed April 2, 1923 Patented Dec. 22, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT ori-ICE CHESTER. D. AINSWORTH, OF WOLLASTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY NCESNE SIGNMENTS, ITO CONDIT ELECTRCAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, Y MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION -OF MASSACHUSETTS on Bos'roN,

ELECTRIC SWITCH V Original application filed April 2, 1923,

can move to openposition rapidly, unimped-` 'ed by the mass and inertia of the operating mechanism. l

A yet further object is generally to improve the construction and operation of electric-switches.

l Fig. l1 is a side elevation of a-three pole switch embodying my invention, theswitch comprising the center pole being partially in section.

' Fig. 2 is a front elevation of one ofthe switch units of Fig. 1.

Fig. `3l isa detail front elevation of an enclosing casing for the control mechanism of the switch. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail along line 4--4 of Fig. 3, illustrating. the relative position of the component parts of the control mechanism in switch-closed position.

Fig. `5 is a detail illustrating the relative position of the component parts of the switch -control mechanism when tripped electrically.

Fig. 6 is a similar view 'illustrating the re-V lation of the parts of the control mechanism whenl the switch is vopened manually.

Fig. 7 is a view of the control mechanism Vadapted for manual control only, the dotted position of the mechanismillustrating the switch-open condition of the mechanism.

The switching apparatus here vshown his adapted for the vcontrol of a three phase circu'it'iand comprises three similar switch units. Each switch unit isnso constructed and arranged that a switching apparatus adapted tolcontrolcircuits of various phases maybe Serial No. 629,252. VDivided and this Serial No. 229,513.

Aswitch structure.`

application led October 28,

built up by assembling and connecting .toi gether in line a suitable number of switch units. Each switch unit may `comprise a frame of more or less rectangularshape, which frame is adapted to comprise a cover for the oil receptacle 21. Said oil receptacle is received within said frame and depends therebelow and may rest upon the 'cradle 22. Said cradle is secured removably to the switch `frame by suitablelmeans asthe rods 23 and nuts 23a, whereby the oil receptacle is also secured removably to the switchrame. The top walls 24 of said switch frames are preferably inclined downwardly from the middle portion thereof and stationary switch members comprising the insulators 25 and the conducting studs 26 are inserted through said inclined walls and secured thereto. Said studs 26 are provided with screw-threaded lower endportionson which the main stationary contacty members 27 are secured.l Auxiliary stationary contact `members 28 may be detachably secured to said main contactmembers 27v and are adapted to cooperlin opposite directions beyond the body of the switch frame and may terminate in vertically extendedv flanges V32 and 33 which are adapted to lbe secured to similar flanges of adjacent switch units by suitable means as the bolts 34, whereby to tie together the various `switch Yunits and form a unitary The movable switch membermay include the insulating rod 36 provided with the :brush member 37 at the lower end thereof.

A metal rod 38 isv fixed to the upper end of said insulating rod 36 and `extends slidably through anv aperture 'in `the bottom wall of the mechanism compartment and may carry ablock 40 adjustably threadedon `the upper guide links 4l of the switch mechanism. The lowei ends of said guide links are pivotally connected with the pair of strut links 42; and said latter links are pirated on a pin t3 extended through the opposite walls 3l oli the mechanism compartment. A. pair of bell crank levers 45 are pivotally mounted on a pin 'le extended 'through the opposite end of the side walls 3l of the mechanism compartment and the long arms oit said bell crank levers are pivotally connected by suitable means, as the pins di', to an intermediate portion of the guide linls 4l. This construction and disposition of mechanism provides means to guide the upper end ot the movable switch member in substantially a straight line,

The various and similar switch units are adapted to be assembled together Ain line and united with each other, as above described, by the bolts 3d. The switch units may be supported on a suitable frame and, tor this purpose, 'the switch trames 20 may be 'formed or provided with the lateral extensions 5l adapted to rest upon said trame 50. Bolts 5i? may be passed tliroug'h said extensions 5l into said frame 50 whereby to secure the switch units to said iframe. The rear end ot the mechanism compartment of the rear switch unit may be closed, preferably removably, by suitable means as the cover plates 53.

rlhe switch mechanisms oi. all the switch units are connected together for conjoint operation by the two spaced bars which are extended through the upper portion of the connected mechanism compartments of the switch units and are pivotally connected with the short arms 45a of the bell crank levers ot the separate switch mechanisms.

The svitch operating or control mechanism is adapted to be contained mainly within a separate casing which is secured against the free i'iange of the foremost switch unit. Said casing` 60 is divided into an upper compartment 6l adapted to contain switch operating mechanism, two spaced intermediate compartments 62 and 62o adapted to contain the tripping' coils and two spaced lower compartments ($3 and 63o arranged below said intermediate compartments and adapted to contain the calibration extensions of the tripping coils. Said casing is also l'ormed with a central vertical passage 64 whichis in communication with the upper comA artment 6l and is adapted to contain a member of the operating mechanism adapted to provide for the manual control of the switch. Said various compartments may be closed by the cover plates 65 and 66 and said cover plates may be secured removably in position by any suitable means as the thumb nuts 67.

rfhe switch mechanism herein illustrated is adapted to provide tor the manual opening' and closing ot the switch and also for the automatic tripping oi the switch by electrically controlled tripping means.

The switch operating' mechanism includes a pair ol spaed bell-craint lovers 'TO which are disposed between the bel`=-crank lever? l5 oit the foremost switch unit and pivotally supported on the pivo= pin lil of said bell c ank levers. rlhc upperl arms TO@ el said bell cra nk levers are pivotally connected by the pin T2 to triangular-ly shaped and spaced plates 73 which constitute members ot a locking' toggle for all oi'l the switcl'i units. Il link 74 is disposed betweei said plates and pirotally connected to said plates by suitable means as the pin 75. 'iflie other end ot said link may be disposed between the arms 450, oil said foremost bell crank levers 45 and pivotally connected thereto by the pin 76. The connections between said link 7a and the bell crank levers d5 and the plates 73, and between said plates Z3 and the bell-crank levers 'TO are adapted to be such as to term an inverted toggle which when substantially/in an oncenter position is adapted to hold the switch units closed. A latch roller Td disposed between the lower ends ot said plates T23 and rotatably supported on a pin 79 passed through said plates. A latch titl may he disposed between said plat and pirotally supported on the pin flt. Said latch is arraugor'l to engage said cam roller 78 and releasably hold the inverted td de e f consequently the switch closed; and said latch is adapted to be 'aised whereby to release said cam roller and permit the toggle 'to be broken by the weight oit the movable switch member, or accelerating springs 39, whereby to permit the switch to open. Said la ch S0 is adapted to be raised to trip the switch by means including the link S2 which is disposed beneath said latch and is formed provided with an elo ated slot in which the lixedly sup porteel pin 82o is received. Said pin 82o is adapted to guide said link 82 in the trippiu movement of. Said link 82 is pirota= lower end to the forwardly e'i'ftended arm of a trippingl trame Said :trame is pivotally supported. by the .tired brackets 85 and has laterally extended c :tensions or arms through which pins may be adjustably ef;- tcnded for engagement with tripping members of the tripping' coils.

The tripping' coils are adal-itcd to be con- 'tained in the compartments S2 and (32a and disposed beneath the tripping 'frame Each tripping coil may comin-.isc the coil bobbin in which tube 91 may contain the plunger' oit the coil. Said tube Sl may be formed or provided with a reduced. upper end portion 92 which is adapted to be extended through an aperture in the 'to p compartment (il and a nut may be threaded on said reduced portion 92 whereby to secure said tube 91 ana consequently the coil bobbin in place.

' its tripping plate 95 is extended between and.

ivotally received or fulcrumedonf each pair.

` of tripping pins and the varrangement is such that each coil may act independently'to raise said tripping plate to trip theswitch or the coils may act ,conjointly to trip the switch.

The lower or calibration ends of the tubes 91 oi said tripping coils are extended slidably through the bottom walls 97 of the-coil compartments and into the lowermost compartments G8 and 68a andv adjustments ot the current settings oi said coils may be made in these compartments. The bottom walls 98 0fsaid lowermost compartments` are formed with apertures therein which; are aligned with the tube. apertures in the upper wall-97. T he trip coils may be removed from.v their enclosing compartments by first withdrawing the tubes 91 through said alignedv apertures. Said apertures in said lowermost walls 98 are normally closedz by the plugs 99.

The switch operating components adapted to provide for the manual opening and closing of the switch include the pairs o'flinks which are pivotally connected to the lower arms 7 05 of the bell-crank lever'70. Said links 105 are `also pivotally connected by suitable means as the pivot pin 106 with a pair of links 107 and said links 107 are in turn pivotally supported on the liXed pin 82a. Said pairs of links 107 and 105 constitute toggle members adapted to be actuated manually to eifect the opening and closing of the switch. A link 108 is disposed between said links 105 and 107 and pivotally supported on the pivot pin 106.' The lower end of said link is pivotally connected to the connecting bars or rods 1.10 which extend downwardly through the central passage 64 of the casing. The

- lewer ends of said bars 110 are adapted to be pivotally connected to an operating handle 111 and said handle is pivoted to a bracket 112 secured to the lower wall 98 of the cas- (l Y ing o0.

apted to be in somewhat over-shot posipin lia. With this arrangement, the upper arm 70a of the bell-crank lever 7 0 forms a pivotal support for the toggle comprising the plates 7 3 and the link 74. When the over-load coils vare energized to trip the en and in contact with astop-member as the switch, the. latch 80 is raised from holding engagement withthey latch roller 78 carried byV the lower end of the plates 7 3 and,inas much as the" toggle including said; plates as a' member is in a slightly under-shot position, the weight of the switch members, .or

accelerating` springs associated therewith,

serves tomove the'movabl'e switch members rapidly into'open position.

The switch-open position of the mechanismpwhen tripped electrically is similar to f that illustrated in Fig. 5. It is to be noted that with this arrangement, the only part of the operating mechanism that moves is the toggle comprising the plates-73I and the link 74. Inasmuch as saidl toggle may have very little weight and inertia, thisA arrangement provides a switch. having a rrelatively high rate of opening movement.

Y As here shown, the switch is arrangedqto be closed manually after it has opened electrically. For this purpose the handle is adapted to be raised whereby to break the toggle comprising the links 107 and 105 and rotate the bell-crank lever 70 in a clockwise direction. rlhis movement causes the plates 7 to rotate in acounterclockwise direction whereby to move the latch ,roller 78 into holding engagement with. the latch 80. The

connection between the switch Y operating f mechanism and the movable switch mecha- Anism-is thereby restored and when said operating handle 111 is moved downwardly, the operating mechanism is .restored to acondiytion illustrated in F ig. 4.

l lhen the switch is opened manually, the handler111 israised` as before and the bell crank levers 7 0Y remain` connected with the switchY mechanisms through the latch 80 to efl'ect the manual opening of the switch and .i

remain connected therewith when the operating handle 11'1 is moved downwardlyto effect the manual closing of the switch.

' The switch mechanismy herein illustrated may also be arranged solely for' manual opening and closing and the switch mechanism so arranged is illustrated in Fig. 7. Forthis arrangement, the toggle comprising the plates 7 3 and link 74 may be removed and a link 115'may be connected between the pivot pin 72 carried inthe'arms 70a of the bell-crank levers 70 andthe pivot pin 76 carried inthe arms 45a of the bell-crank levers 45. This arrangement serves to connectV said bell-crank levers 70 fixedly to the bellecrank leve-rs 45 whereby the operation of saidl handle 111 serves to1 openA andqclose the switch units; and the switch units will 'remain in closed positionuntil the handleis moved downwardly as the toggle comprising the members 107 and 105, in'theswitch closed condition, isv adaptedy to be in slightly overshot position. f j f I claim: Y f ,1. An electric.switchcomprisingthe comico bination of a movable switch member, a guide link pivoted at one end thereto, a pivotally supported strut link pivoted to the other end ol said guide link, a bell crank lever having a lined pivotal support and a pivotal connection with said guide link for operating it, a second bell crank lever pivoted concentrically with said lirst bell crank lever, a toggle connecting said bell crank levers, a second toggle rrranged to actuate said second bell-crank lever to open and close the switch through said tirs-t toggle and hold said `lirst bell-crank lever against operation, a latch arranged to hold said lirst toggle releasably in set condition, whereby to permit the switch to be closed by said second toggle, and means to trip said latch, whereby to release said first toggle and permit the switch to open independently ot said second bell crank lever and second toggle.

2. An electric switch comprising the combination of relatively movable switch members, switcli-operating mechanism including a pivoted lever, and control mechanism for said switch-operating mechanism including a bell-crank lever, means operatively connecting said bell crank lever and pivoted lever including a link pivotally connected with both levers, a toggle arranged to actuate said bell-crank lever, and manually-operable actuating means for said toggle.

3. An electric switch comprising the combination ot a switch frame, relatively movable switch members carried thereby, switch operating mechanism including an operating lever pivoted to said trame, control mechanism for said operating mechanism including a bell-crank lever supported on the pivot of said operating lever and extended outwardly beyond said switch frame, links constituting a toggle connecting said bell-crank lever and operating lever, a latch pivotally supported on the pivot of said operating lever and eX- tended outwardly beyond said switch frame arranged releasably to hold said toggle in set condition, whereby to permit said bellcrank lever to open and close the switch through said toggle, means to trip said latch whereby to release said toggle and permit the switch to open independently of control by said bell-crank lever, means to operate said bell-crank lever including a second toggle connected therewith and arranged to be restrained in set position whereby releasably to hold the switch closed, and means to operate said second toggle.

t. An electric switch comprising the combination ot relatively movable switch members, switch operating mechanism, control mechanism therefor including a pivoted member, a plate pivoted to said pivoted member, a link pivoted to said plate and to a member of said switch-operating mechanism, said plate and link arranged to form an inverted toggle whereby releasably to hold the ,switch closed, said plate having a projection disposed below the pivotal connection of said link and pivoted member, a pivoted latch arranged to engage said projection and hold said toggle releasably in set condition in switch open and closed positions and release said projection in the switch closed position oitl the toggle, whereby to permit the toggle to be broken and open the switch, tripping means for said latch, and operating means Jtor said pivoted member including a second toggle arranged to be res ained in switch closed position, and operating means 'for said second toggle.

5. An electric switch connarising` the combination of relatively movable switch me1nbers, switch operating mechanism including a pivoted lever, a pivoted member, means including a toggle connecting said lever and member, a latch arranged releasably to hold said toggle in set condition, a second toggle connected with said pivoted member, actuating means for said second toggle, and latch tripping mechanism including a pivoted tripping 'frame disposed below said latch, a. slotted link pivotally connected with said frame and extended upwardly under said latch and a guide pin arranged in the slot in said link, whereby to guide said link for vertical latch-tripping movement.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this application.

CHESTER D. ANSVOR El 

